Dear Congress

Learn to compromise on this whole budget thing and stop being stubborn jerks.
My departure to Ukraine could be affected by your silliness and I would love to get on with my Peace Corps service.


Love, 
Kim


But really. I got this e-mail today:

"Dear Group 41,

  A few of you have contacted me recently with questions regarding the effect a government shutdown could have on your departure for Ukraine.  Today, Congress agreed in principle to pass a Continuing Resolution that will fund the government through March 18^th.  While the extension is welcome, I know that it would be poor timing for all of us if the government were to then shut down just prior to your departure on March 21^st.

  Rest assured, a government shutdown would only delay the departure of your class until the budget is resolved.  The Peace Corps would plan to send your group of volunteers to Ukraine as soon as possible.  The new date of departure would be contingent on:  1) when the new budget is passed and 2) when we are able to book new hotel rooms for Staging and arrange new flights to Ukraine for your group.  In the event of a shutdown, I anticipate being deemed “essential personnel”, so I will send you updated information as I receive it.

  At this point, the decision ultimately lies with Congress and we will base our plans on the timing of the budget they pass.  As always, our priority is getting volunteers into the field and we will be aiming to do that as soon as possible.

Regards,
Lenny"

I am pretty much hoping for the best.  Yay optimism!

Why hello there Staging e-mail!

As I was driving to work this morning, my phone brought to my attention that I had an e-mail.  When I checked the information bar and saw that it was from "Staging" I got pretty excited, to say the least.  Since I have a 45 minute drive to work, I took advantage my quiet car time and called to schedule my flight :)  Here are the some of the details of my last two days in the US:

Monday March 21, 2011
-Meme will ensure that my ass is out of bed by 4AM
-Leave house 5-ish to make the 50 minute drive to Gainesville's airport!
-Plane leaves at 6:40AM for Charlotte, NC! Arrives 8:08AM
-Hang out at airport until 9:43 Flight to D.C.!  Arrives 11AM
-Rush to find baggage claims and get my millions hundred pounds of luggage and experience my first taxi ride!
-STAGING!

• Noon: Registration
• 2-4:25P: Who We Are, What is Expected of You
• 4:45-7P: What You Expect, What's Next, Closing

Tuesday March 22, 2011

-Wake up early and be a tourist with fellow UKR 41ers!

-Check out of hotel @ 1PM :)

-Bus to airport @ 1:30PM

-MORE PLANES!

• Flight to Frankfurt: Leaves @ 6:50PM, Arrives 7:40A (7 hr 50min flight)
• Flight to Kyiv Leaves @ 9:45A, Arrives 1:10P

I must say, I think my group lucked out in the travel arrangement department.  We don't have to leave in the wee hours of the morning to wait hours and hours for the plane; we get to do it in the afternoon!  Plus, there are no ridiculously long layovers between flights.

I feel like I have gotten a ton of e-mail of the PC persuasion lately.  I need to e-mail my peer support person back and go through the numerous attachments in my e-mails.  Good thing I have a ton of time now that I am no longer working!

Today was my last day.  Almost 7 years in the same company!  Talking about it with an old co-worker on my way home made me teary-eyed.  I learned a lot in my job it really helped me to grow and become more open, so saying goodbye to that chapter is a bit weird.  But alas, ON TO BETTER THINGS!

This post is all over the place, so let's send it one more place:  Snapshots of Service!
We only need 7 more countries to have a complete roster.

Oh yeah, and I didn't proofread this, so don't judge any potential mistakes.  If you do decide to judge, then do so lightly :)